BS: I. C. E.

Subject: BS: I. C. E.
From: tarheel
Date: 30 Jul 05 - 08:47 PM

In Case of Emergency

A useful thing to add to your mobile address
book! It was thought up by an ambulance
man/paramedic who found that when they went to the
scenes of accidents there were always mobile phones
but they didn't know which numbers to call and he
thought that it would be a good idea if there was a
nationally recognized name to file "next of kin"
under. Following the disaster in London. . . East
Anglican Ambulance Service have launched a national
"In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign with the
support of Falkland's war hero Simon Weston.
The idea is that you store the word " I C E "
in your mobile phone Address book, and against it
enter the number of the person you would want to be
contacted "In Case of Emergency".
In an emergency situation ambulance and
hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out
who your next of kin are and be able to contact
them. It's so simple that everyone can do it and it could
really could save your life, or put a loved one's
mind at rest.         
For more than one contact name ICE-1, ICE-2,
ICE-3, etc..         
Regards,
tar...

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Jul 05 - 08:52 PM

I think you will find it's the East Anglian Ambulance. I think Anglican is a copy paste that is getting spread about.

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Jul 05 - 08:55 PM

Here is the ICE website.

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: jacqui.c
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 12:44 AM

I've already done this - what a good idea.

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 02:20 AM

I like the idea of an East Anglican Ambulance service.. but surely it would be open to all denominations, not just Anglican (Church of England)...!

Yes, like identity bracelets giving medication details, this is a great idea.

Simple things often are.

Makes me bloody wonderful then!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: Blowzabella
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 04:46 AM

What happens about phones which have a PIN number on them to stop the phone being used if it gets stolen? Can the address book still be accessed?

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: Dave Swan
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 03:18 PM

This has been a recent subject of discussion in my fire house.

It's a lovely idea, really, but don't think that it's going to do a lot of good in the moment of crisis.

If you're very ill or critically injured, the last thing we (paramedics and firefighters) are going to do is muck about in your cell phone looking for information. Someone in the emergency department might think to try locate your cell phone, then try to open the address book, but that's going to be low on the list of things to do.

If you're really concerned about notification please wear a Medic Alert bracelet or, as a distant second, put a large card bearing your critical information in your wallet.

There simply isn't time in an emergency to figure out the features of some else's cell phone.

ICE is like chicken soup, it couldn't hurt, might make you feel better, but probably has little bearing on outcome.

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: Cluin
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 03:20 PM

Especially since, at last count, over two thirds of the population still can't program their VCR.

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 04:24 PM

And, I hated my cell/mobile....turned it in. Can do the wallet thing tho

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: robomatic
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 05:57 PM

I'm just afraid I'll be paralyzed in the Anchorage snow, cell phone dangling out of reach and losing charge, wondering if the East Anglian Rescue people have gotten on the plane yet . . .

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 06:53 AM

If it wasn't going to be a practical idea then why would the East Anglian Ambulance Service be promoting it? Admittedly it's not going to be high on the list of priorities but at some point it's going to save someone in A&E a lot of time and it's worth doing just for that.

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 07:17 AM

I was wondering the same manitas. Dave Swan is a professional so must have reasons for his comments. Perhaps the way they work is different in the UK? or perhaps they are thinking of maybe a little later in the process?

The only thing I do know is the guy who suggested it has worked as a paramedic and has also worked on the regions air ambulance; and I presume the idea would also have been discussed by colleagues before the idea being promoted.

The only other thing I do know is between Oct last year and early this year, we had cause to call the East Anglian Ambulance service 3 times, 2 being worries over my father, one of which was a suspected stroke (turned out to be post stroke epilepsy) and one me having a fit as a result of alcohol withdrawal).

I also watched that Air ambulance service in action a few weeks ago (sonds bad but I could watch from our woods and was interested in seeing how they dealt with it [not in blood and gore - I faint at that!] when there was a car smash (again) near me and they (fire brigade) cut the roof off a car before removing the guy and airlifting him to hospital.

It's kind of hard to know much of my own treatment (most of it stuff I learned like the ambulance pulled over to stop to give me an ECG before hostpital as in my state [3 fits in the end} I was pulling the "electrodes" off) as my times of consciousness are either blurred or non-existant, but I did witness these others and they were all dealt with calmly and slowly. There was no emergency rush panic.

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 07:48 AM

A drift but it's fantastic the equipment they have these days. On the first of my fathers do's they brought an ECG unit into the house, connected up to phone line (apparently a mobile will work too but they couldn't get a good enough signal where we are) and sent to Norfolk and Norwich hospital to get a second opinion from a Dr. who advised bringing him in in case (it was later agreed that what ever was shown on the ECG is Peter's normal).

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 08:00 AM

On the other hand, there is the panic approach. I've just been reminded of it. Peter (dad) went into Bodelwydden hospital a few years back. There was "something" on the ECG (I guess the same as the one shown up this later time).

He was administered streptokinase for what we believe was a Menniers attack and he had a nasty bleed - finished off in a coma in Walton (a UK neurological specialist hospital). He is actually one of the ones that does carry medical info on him - I forget the name but it is a little pendant round his neck telling people he reacts to this drug.

A few years back, I thought the hospital was right but these days, I feel they are resonsible for his disability...

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 09:55 AM

Yea I got one of these e-mails from a relative. Good idea. Must do it sometime. Police trying to locate relatives would try a few obvious numbers and soon find names to try, assuming you use the names directory in yer mobile phone - not all people do.

Subject: RE: BS: I. C. E.
From: Firecat
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 04:08 PM

I've done it.